Let's Have Coffee! Tuesday, Sept. 29 @ 7 pm

It's time for another Let's Have Coffee! Please come to the Apple Valley Panera Bread Tuesday, September 29 at 7 pm for a fun and relaxed time to connect with other ladies from South Suburban EFC. Look for a sign on a table indicating our group. No children please. Let's Have Coffee! meets the last Tuesday of each month from 7 pm to when you need to leave. Mark your calendars now for the October meeting date: October 27. This monthly event has been a success with a good turnout of ladies. It's a great opportunity to meet new people and make connections so please come....and be sure to invite other ladies to join you. Thank you and hope to see you there!

2009 Jubilee Celebration Summary

Saturday, September 19 offered plenty of sunshine and thousands of reasons to smile. For God’s glory, Jubilee Celebration 2009 succeeded in blessing approximately 1700 people in need. Also blessed were the over 300 volunteers from 17 churches in the surrounding south metro area. Thank you to everyone who came and everyone who gave of their time, efforts and resources!

What is Jubilee? It's a one-day celebration to honor members in our community who are in need. Through donations from individuals, corporations and other organizations, the Jubilee's goal is to provide much-needed relief to people who need help meeting some of life's most basic necessities. And it’s all done in the Name of Jesus Christ.

This year’s Jubilee was at a new location. Previous celebrations were held at Christ Church in Apple Valley, the church that founded this event seven years ago. But this year we were able to spread out and enjoy more space to serve and minister in the parking lot of the Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center. A big thank you to the city of Apple Valley for their partnership and generosity in sharing this great location with us!

The event wasn’t scheduled to begin until 10 am, but people began lining up in the early morning hours to receive their choice of seven blessings of groceries, toys, furniture, household items and clothing. People were also given the opportunity to get checked for glaucoma, receive haircuts and other service opportunities. Food and refreshment were freely given along with special treats like popcorn, sno-cones, cotton candy and cake/pop walks. There were gift certificate drawings offered for stores, services and restaurants. Special activities were available for children such as face painting, balloons sculptures, inflatable play structures, puppet shows and crafts. Throughout the duration of the event, we enjoyed the sound of worship music and The Heart of the City Worship Band honored the event with a special concert at the end. And, once again, all of this was FREE! Why? Because “freely you have received, so freely give.” Matthew 10:8.

There we so many exciting and wonderful aspects of this event that need to be celebrated. One of many was the constant flow of prayer that came from the Prayer and Evangelism tent. Many came and laid their needs before the Lord along with faithful people who love to pray. Another wonderful thing to celebrate is the fact this event was the collaborative effort of many churches from differing denominations coming together to serve and minister. What a powerful way to show the world that under Christ, we are united and that the Church Body loves people and longs to reach out and serve. By partnering with other churches, the Church (with a capital C) works as a body for the glory of the LORD!

Please visit the Jubilee Photo Album for beautiful pictures that capture the essence of this event! A special thanks to Wayne Moran for these photos.

The exact date of next year’s Jubilee will be determined soon. Hope you can participate!

P.S. Please click on "Comments" below and offer your great story from the Jubilee! We would love to hear how you were blessed by this event!

Mover's Group Class & Operation Christmas Child Service Project

SSEFC Women's Ministries is sponsoring a "Moving On After Moving In" class, an encouragement group for women experiencing the transition and adjustment of moving. A fall kick-off rally is planned for Monday, September 28, at 7:00 pm in the educational suite at South Suburban Evangelical Free Church, 12600 Johnny Cake Ridge Road in Apple Valley, MN.

All area women are invited to attend and learn more about the class which will meet the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month through March. Based on the book, After the Boxes are Unpacked by Susan Miller, the class uses Biblical principles and practical how-tos for help in finding the courage to put down roots all over again. For more information, please contact Jan Birkenholz via the SSEFC church directory.

SAVE THE DATE - Saturday, November 28th 10 am to 2 pm! The SSEFC Mover's Group is also coordinating another service event to help pack and ship shoe boxes with gifts for children around the world for Operation Christmas Child. Mark your calendars and plan to help out! Contact Jan Birkenholz with questions. See the post from last year's service event at OCC. It was so fun and such a blessing to serve!

Jubilee this Saturday the 19th!

The Jubilee Celebration is coming this Saturday the 19th from 10 am - 3 pm!!! If you haven't signed up to volunteer there is plenty of time...you can even come on the 19th and go to the volunteer tent and ask for a place to serve and you will be needed.

More donations for laundry detergent are needed to make the 500 bottle goal and baked goods and two liters of soda are needed to make the cake walk a great success. Please contact Evie Cayton with questions regarding the cake walk and donations....Also, individuals are needed to help set up and take down after the event.

Very important! Please, please be in prayer for this wonderful outreach event. As our church body seeks to love God and love others (Matt 22:34-39), what a phenomenal opportunity we have to partner with other churches and denominations to demonstrate that the church under Christ is united and that we love and want to serve His people. We can do so much more together than we can ever do alone....so thanks to everyone for your participation and your prayers for this event. See you on the 19th!

New Worship Hours This Sunday the 13th!

Mark your calendars and set your clocks now for the new worship times at SSEFC! Starting Sunday, September 13, SSEFC's new worship hours will be 9 am and 10:45 am, with Sunday schools and Adult Bible Fellowships (ABFs) meeting during the second service. Fellowship time will be from 10:15 - 10:45 am in the Fellowship Hall. Once the switch is made to these new hours, we will no longer be changing times for holidays or summer.

The SSEFC Ministry Fair will also be on Sunday, September 13. It will be held between both services from 10 - 10:45 am and then for 20 minutes after the second service. Come to the Ministry Fair to see what great ministries, Bible Studies, areas of service, etc. are available at SSEFC. Come discover wonderful opportunities for you to learn, grow and serve...in order To Glorify God for the Joy of All People!